Scenes From a Marriage: You Had Me At...

Nate: Why do you have all that butter on the counter?
Emily: I'm softening it to bake it with the blueberries we haven't...
Nate interrupts
Nate: You had me at "butter" and "blueberries."

Happy birthday, Cora!

Luke and Cora (much like their older siblings) had a love/hate "you're more like my sibling than my cousin" relationship for a while. They're both stubborn and see the world differently.

Lately, they've bonded as they've found that they share a common love of antagonizing their older siblings...that coupled with their desire to get into mischief.

So, I was excited to have Luke draw Cora a picture for her birthday. Luke did it, and I asked him to explain it to me. Luke said, "This is Cora with a parachute, but it's broken and she's falling down. And, this is me with a gun, and I'm shooting her."

Perhaps the rivalry still exists?

Dear Asher...

We just got a slew of last day of school stuff today. In Asher's stuff was a "Student of the Week" packet where each of Asher's classmate wrote to him.

I suppose they were each supposed to ask him a question because there are lots like, "Will you be my friend?, Are you my friend?" But, the majority of the questions run along the lines of, "Are you always happy?"

Asher is pretty much always happy, especially if he's around friends or getting some screen time.

Here's the one that made me laugh:
Dear Asher,
Asher you are so smart. Asher you are so funny. Asher will you come to my house someday?
Sincerily,
Asher

Asher's Talk

Nate helped Asher write this talk that he gave today in Primary. Let's just say it shows Asher's and Nate's personalities...

I Will Choose the Right After I am Baptized and Confirmed

Hello, my name is Asher. I am seven years old and next year, I turn 8 years old and I get baptized.

When I get baptized, I go to the church and get dunked under water. I am a little scared of getting dunked underwater.

Getting baptized is like taking a bath to get rid of all the bad things I have ever done. Sometimes, kids have to get baptized two times because all the bad stuff doesn't come off. This happens if their feet do not stay underwater when they get dunked.

I think I am going to have to get baptized two times. I am so good at back floats that my dad might not get me under water.

After I get baptized, I get the gift of the Holy Ghost. I think it is going to be kind of weird to have a ghost living with me all the time. I wonder if the Holy Ghost is going to watch me go to the bathroom. That would be really freaky. (fortunately, Asher was laughing so hard during this part, I don't think anyone understood him.)

Sometimes it is hard for me to know what is right and what is wrong. I think the Holy Ghost will help me know the difference between right and wrong. That will make it easier for me to choose the right.

I know that it is important to choose the right because my dad wrote the letters CTR on his arm a long time ago so he would remember to choose the right, and the letters never came off.

I want to be baptized and get the gift of the Holy Ghost so I can choose the right and make my mom and dad happy.

Blast for the Past: Moo, Baa, La, La, La

Man, we love that book...


My favorite line?
Me: It's quiet now. What does Lukey-boy say?
Luke: The end. (pause) Poop.

Emmeline is the boss and other random facts

Emma and Grandma Judy on a walk

I'm going to blame Blogger going and reformatting how we post blogs for the lack of posts lately.  I have a few drafts, but it took me a while to get the hang of inserting pics.  Good thing I never claimed to be a diligent blogger who records everything--it's doubtful that you'll ever hear about Christmas 2011.  Not that it was a bad Christmas, just one that I didn't attempt to record.

Yesterday, I picked up Emma from Kids' Club at the gym, and my friend said, "I didn't know Emma could talk."  I replied she doesn't really...she mostly speaks in inflections.  My mom is better at understanding them than I am. Her favorite inflections is, "What is that?"

My friend said, "Oh, I heard her telling a baby to go."  And, then, I realized Emma does have a few words.  Her favorites being, "No, Mine, Go." She continues to call her dad, "Nate," and unfortunately, she's mastered the inflection I use when I'm irritated with Nate--wait, not that I'm ever irritated with Nate.

Emma finished with her walk

She hates the car, and that's totally my fault.  She's so much easier to take out than her toddler brothers were that I do 3-4 errands at a time.  I never dared to do more than one or two with Asher and/or Luke.

And, I love the fact that when I say, "Don't, that will hurt," or "Hot!" or "Be careful!" she's the first kid I've ever had who actually thinks I might be telling the truth.

Mom, I Have a Good Idea...

Since Christmas when Luke started creating "Santa traps" (don't worry, I just need to get down the string for his "Easter Bunny traps" and take a picture so you'll know what these look like), Luke often comes up to Nate or me and says, "Mom (or Dad), I have a good idea..."

...and then, proceeds to tell us some creative solution to a Lukey problem, like:
Mom, I have a good idea.  Let's get a seesaw, you can put me on one end and jump really hard.  That will shoot me over to Walter's house.